← 2026 governors map · Likely D
Iowa governor polls
Sand (D) vs. Lahn (R)
Rob Sand leads the 2026 Iowa governor race by 9.1 points in PolitiKool's polling average, as of Oct. 11, 2026.
- Sand 51.9%, Lahn 42.8%.
- 11 polls from 10 pollsters, weighted by recency, sample size, pollster record and partisan sponsorship.
- The margin has moved 1.7 points toward Rob Sand over the past month.
- Rated Likely D, combining the average with the Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Inside Elections.
- The seat is held by Kim Reynolds (R).
Iowa governor polling average
Rob Sand51.9%
Zach Lahn42.8%
MarginSand +9.1
Average as of Oct. 11, 2026 · — Rob Sand · — Zach Lahn
Latest Iowa governor polls
| Dates | Pollster | Sample | Sand | Lahn | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 5–6 | Emerson College / Nexstar Media | 650 LV | 49% | 45% | Sand +4 |
| Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 | CNN/SSRS | 801 LV | 51% | 42% | Sand +9 |
| Oct. 1–4 | Suffolk University | 500 LV | 55% | 43% | Sand +12 |
| Sept. 22 – Oct. 1 | The New York Times/Siena University | 606 LV | 52% | 41% | Sand +11 |
| Sept. 24–28 | Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research / Fox News | 1,008 LV | 53% | 44% | Sand +9 |
| Sept. 17–20 | Marist University | 1,050 RV | 54% | 42% | Sand +12 |
| Sept. 14–16 | co/efficient (partisan) | 831 LV | 46% | 42% | Sand +4 |
| Sept. 9–11 | Cygnal (partisan) | 500 LV | 48% | 44% | Sand +4 |
| Sept. 3–8 | YouGov | 2,041 LV | 51% | 41% | Sand +10 |
| Aug. 31 – Sept. 1 | Emerson College / Nexstar Media | 750 LV | 49% | 46% | Sand +3 |
| Aug. 27–29 | Wedgewood Polls | 600 LV | 51% | 46% | Sand +5 |
| Aug. 20–23 | Suffolk University | 500 LV | 48% | 44% | Sand +4 |
| Aug. 2–4 | Emerson College / Nexstar Media | 712 LV | 48% | 43% | Sand +5 |
| June 23–27 | Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research / Fox News | 1,003 RV | 53% | 44% | Sand +9 |
| June 15–27 | New York Times/Siena University | 600 LV | 48% | 47% | Sand +1 |
| June 16–19 | Cygnal / Iowans for Tax Relief | 600 LV | 48% | 43% | Sand +4 |
| June 15–17 | The New York Times/Siena University | 600 LV | 48% | 47% | Sand +1 |
| April 3–9 | Echelon Insights / NetChoice | 377 LV | 51% | 39% | Sand +12 |
| March 10–16 | GBAO Strategies / Moderate Democrats PAC | 1,200 LV | 50% | 42% | Sand +8 |
| Oct. 9–13 | Z to A Research (partisan) | 1,351 LV | 45% | 43% | Sand +2 |